Compare towns
Richmond vs Dorset vs Ferrisburgh vs Bolton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Richmond has the most renters (21.2% rent).
Dorset has the most expensive homes ($569k median).
Ferrisburgh has the oldest housing (typical home built 1968).
Bolton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.1%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Richmond | Dorset | Ferrisburgh | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,159Highest |
2,092 |
2,661 |
1,163Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1% VT: +2.8% |
+5% VT: +2.8% |
-4.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+10.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.7±5.6 about the VT average |
45.9±7.5Highest 6% above VT |
45.5±4.9 6% above VT |
36.3±1.7Lowest 16% below VT |
| Dorset and Ferrisburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.5%±5 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.2%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
14.9%±4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
23.3%±3.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
6.7%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ferrisburgh and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.1% VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
51.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.7 VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3%±2.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Ferrisburgh and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,235±$24k 33% above VT |
$111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
$106,989±$22kLowest 32% above VT |
$111,125±$17k 37% above VT |
| Dorset and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,200±$39k 37% above VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
$422,700±$35k 34% above VT |
$311,600±$42kLowest about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,420±$296 15% above VT |
$1,435±$173Highest 16% above VT |
$1,299±$273Lowest 5% above VT |
| Ferrisburgh and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,868 36% above VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$6,120 21% above VT |
$4,826Lowest 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.5%±15.8 VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
57%±19.5 VT: 48.4% |
28%±30.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Ferrisburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.2% VT: 10.1% |
11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
2.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.3% VT: 73.2% |
81.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% above VT |
22 minLowest 8% below VT |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.5%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±8.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #5 of 70 in VT | — | #7 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Addison Northwest Unified Union School District #54 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.